RIC forges united stand on terrorism, to promote a stable world order

Feb 09 2015

Debidatta Aurobinda Mahapatra

specially for RIR

The RIC collaboration in developing an international legal framework to fight terrorism is timely. Source: Reuters

The recent meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China (RIC) in Beijing underlined the continued relevance of the RIC trilateral and its role in addressing a host of cross-cutting issues, including terrorism and promoting a rules-based global order, says Debidatta Aurobinda Mahapatra.

The foreign ministers of
Russia, India and China recently participated in the 13th RIC
meeting, and expressed joint resolve to fight terrorism and promote a stable
and multipolar world order. One of the key achievements of the trilateral meeting
is the declaration of common position on terrorism. Russia and China expressed
support to the long-standing Indian initiative, Comprehensive Convention on
International Terrorism (CCIT). When India initiated this proposal at the
United Nations in 1996, terrorism, particularly international terrorism, was
not much debated in international circles, and some nations thought of it as
acts committed by stray elements. The situation is totally different now.
Religious terrorism is a major concern for any multiethnic and pluralist
society. The new phenomenon termed the Islamic State has set new standards of
barbarism. Closer home, terrorism in Afghanistan, Kashmir, Xinjiang and North
Caucasus has challenged the state legitimacy, and created instability.

The RIC collaboration in
developing an international legal framework to fight terrorism is timely. This
also shows seriousness of the three countries, also victims of the terrorist
violence, to fight together. The CCIT will have two main goals. First, it will
empower the international community to oppose use of terrorism under any guise.
The ministers argued that “there can be no ideological, religious, political,
racial, ethnic, or any other justification for acts of terrorism.” Second, it
will help bring the perpetrators of terrorism to justice. The joint statement
emphasised on the need “to bring to justice perpetrators, organisers,
financiers and sponsors of terrorist acts.” The terror minds are more dangerous
than the terrorists committing the act. The convention will help the
international community, under the guidance of the UN, to nab these masterminds
and penalise those countries which support these minds or organisations
promoting terrorism from their soil.

The joint statement also stressed
on the prevention of the use of the Internet and other information and
communication technologies for terrorist acts.

UN-led
world order

The foreign ministers also
underlined the pivotal importance of the UN and its 70th birth
anniversary, the global organisation which evokes trust and respect from the
comity of nations irrespective of divides. The ministers also called for a
stable and secure global order in which developing countries play active roles
in decision-making. Towards the evolving world order, groups like BRICS and
G20, of which these three countries are members, have played an important role.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasised that the RIC nucleus has
further expanded to form the BRICS. RIC, BRICS and G20 have on many occasions
reiterated their call for a fair, just and stable world order in which
unilateral state intervention will have less scope. They called for the reform
of international bodies, including the United Nations and international
financial bodies. The joint statement emphasised that the UN Charter, along
with the five principles of coexistence, mainly based on the principles of
cooperation, non-intervention and respect of sovereignty and integrity, should
be the governing principles of the world.

Russia and China expressed
their support for India’s greater role in the United Nations and APEC, and
supported its full membership of SCO. India’s aspiration to be a permanent
member of UN Security Council is well known. Russia has been an active
supporter of India’s aspiration, while China is restrained in its support.
However, this is a positive sign as China openly supported India’s aspiration.
With India’s inclusion as a permanent member in UNSC, the RIC as a collective
body can play a more active, and coordinated, role in the global decision-
making process. At the SCO, India is currently an observer; its elevation to
full membership will make the organisation more inclusive, pluralistic, with
more weight. The SCO has emerged as an important front in the wider Eurasian
region in ensuring security and stability. With the inclusion of India as a
full member, its influence will further spread towards south, with implications
for peace and stability in Afghanistan and neighbouring regions. Russia and
China also supported India’s aspiration to play an active role in APEC.

On the economic
front, the ministers also explored prospects of cooperation. The joint
statement identified mainly five areas for cooperation: business, agriculture,
disaster mitigation and relief, medical services and public health, and
interaction among think-tanks. It also dealt with the prospects of cooperation
in the areas of energy production and transportation, environmental protection,
high tech and connectivity.

The meeting
helped shed apprehensions that the RIC forum is getting weakened. The joint
communiqué further emphasized that “cooperation between their (RIC) countries
is conducive to maintaining international and regional peace and stability and
promoting global economic growth and prosperity.” As multilateral engagement
and cooperative diplomacy is increasingly becoming accepted method of promoting
interests, the recent meeting of RIC ministers indicates that the three
countries will increase their engagements and cooperation in coming months. The
next trilateral meeting is scheduled to take place in Russia in the second half
of 2015. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China in May and to
Russia later this year will further contribute to the joint endeavours of
promoting global peace and stability.